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. 2020 Mar 13;10(3):107. doi: 10.3390/metabo10030107

Table 3.

Response to biological agents (bDMARDs) in obese/overweight patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Author (Reference) Number of Subjects Sex Ratio M/F (%) Disease Duration (Years) Obese/Overweight Subjects (%) bDMARDs Outcome Main Results
Heimans [55] 508 32/68 0.4 obese and overweight: 57.4 csDMARDs combination or MTX + IFX DAS≤ 2.4 at one year RR DAS≤ 2.4 at one year in obese /overweight patients: 2.2 [0.99–4.92]
Klaasen [56] 89 23/77 7 obese: 16.8 IFX [3 mg/kg) ∆DAS28 week 16 Negative relationship between BMI and ∆DAS28 or remission
Smolen [57] 761 17/83 6.9 overweight: 35.2
obese: 16.7
ETA (50 mg/week) remission (according to DAS28, CDAI, SDAI) week 36 Negative relationship between BMI and remission
Gremese [58] 641 19/81 8.4 overweight: 32.3
obese: 10.3
IFX(3mg/kg), ETA (50 mg/week) or ADA (40 mg eow) remission (DAS28) at one year % remission in obese/overweight patients < normal BMI
Ottaviani [59] 76 17/83 8 overweight: 38.2
obese: 28.9
IFX (3 mg/kg) ∆DAS28 ≥ 1.2 at 6 months Fewer responders in overweight/obese patients compared to normal BMI
Iannone [60] 292 15/85 12 overweight: 37.3
obese: 22.6
All bDMARDs at the second line of treatment drug survival at one year Less drug persistence in obese patients versus normal weight
McCulley [61] 23,669 87/13 NA overweight: 36.6
obese: 40.1
All csDMARDs and subcutaneous injectable TNFi time to treatment discontinuation Severe obesity not associated with treatment discontinuation compared to overweight BMI for all except prednisone. Low BMI was associated with TNFi discontinuation
Pers [62] 222 17.6/82.4 14 overweight: 26
obese: 15.5
TCZ IV (8 mg/kg) EULAR response at month 6 Similar response according to BMI
Gardette [63] 115 84.3/15.7 11 overweight: 32
obese: 22
TCZ IV (8 mg/kg) ∆DAS28 ≥ 1.2 at month 6 No effect of BMI on TCZ response
Ottaviani [64] 114 81.5/18.5 9.6 overweight: 35.9
obese: 30
RTX IV (1 g × 2 days 1 and 15) ∆DAS28 ≥ 1.2 at month 6 No effect of BMI on RTX response
Gardette [65] 141 82.3/17.7 12.5 overweight: 27
obese: 27.6
ABA IV (500 mg < 60 kg; 750 mg 60–100 kg; 1000 mg > 100 kg) ∆DAS28 ≥ 1.2 at month 6 No effect of BMI on ABA response
D’Agostino (ACQUIRE trial) [66] 1456 82.5/17.5 7.6 overweight: 34
obese: 30
ABA IV or SC Remission (DAS28 < 2.6) at month 6 Rate of remission similar across BMI groups
Mariette (ACTION study) [67] 643 73.8/26.2 7.2 overweight: 35
obese: 24
ABA IV (500 mg < 60 kg; 750 mg 60–100 kg; 1000 mg > 100 kg) Drug retention at 6 months Retention rates similar across BMI groups
Di Carlo [68] 130 83.8/16.2 11.2 NA ABA SC or IV DAS28 remission or Boolean criteria for remission No effect of BMI on ABA response
Ianone (PANABA registry) [69] 2015 80.6/19.4 10.2 obese: 18.9 ABA IV (500 mg < 60 kg 750 mg 60–100 kg; 1000 mg > 100 kg) Drug retention of ABA No difference in ABA retention between obese and non obese patients

(TNF inhibitor, IL-6 inhibitor, co-stimulatory inhibitor and B-cell depletion agent) in rheumatoid arthritis according to body weight or body mass index (M: male; F: female; BMI: body mass index; bDMARD: biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; csDMARD: conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drug; IFX: infliximab; ETA: etanercept; ADA: adalimumab; TCZ: tocilizumab; ABA: abatacept; RTX: rituximab; MTX: methotrexate; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; DAS28: disease activity score 28 joints; SDAI: simplified disease activity score; CDAI: clinical disease activity index; RR: relative risk; eow: every other week; IV: intravenous; SC: subcutaneous; NA: not available).